Questor Insurance News

Brits are booking more holidays than ever

Research from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has revealed that the number of holidays being booked by sun-seeking Brits are on the rise – but only by three-quarters of the population.

ABTA’s latest Holiday Habits Report 2015 found that the number of holidays booked per person in the UK has increased from 3.0 to 3.2 this year.

An expanding travel sector

But interestingly, the total number of people taking a holiday fell from 80% in 2014 to 77% in 2015.

According to the travel association, the decline in the number of Brits saying they took a holiday is a continued trend that’s been taking place for the past five years. For example, in 2011 a whopping 90% of the UK population said they embarked on a trip abroad – 13% more than in 2015.

It’s believed by experts that the pressure on household budgets are the driver behind the decrease in holidaymakers taking off this year.

Meanwhile, the number of domestic holidays booked per person has also dipped in the past 12 months, which is thought to be the end result of the market change since the credit crunch.

Domestic holidays on the rise

In 2009 the number of domestic holidays reached a record high – according to VisitEngland – but while these numbers have decreased since, they remain higher than before the financial crisis of 2007-2008.

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive at ABTA, said the travel industry has celebrated a steady return to growth over the past few years and it’s encouraging to see so much optimism in the sector, along with Brits choosing to take more holidays – with long-haul flights to overseas destinations being a favourite.

However, some individuals are still feeling the pinch and as a result are “cutting back” on the number of holidays they’re booking, he added.

Will you be treating yourself to a holiday abroad this year? Don’t forget to check out our top money saving tips.